Bedford man sentenced for lobster trap thefts

DURHAM - A Bedford man pleaded guilty Monday to stealing lobster traps and gear after several complaints from fishermen last summer.

Kyle Basoukas of Bedford pleaded guilty to several charges in Portsmouth District Court, according to a release from state Fish and Game officials.

Authorities said that during the summer of 2013, conservation officers had several complaints of missing lobster gear from both commercial and recreational lobster fishermen. After a lengthy and time-consuming investigation, Basoukas was eventually arrested for multiple marine-related offenses.

At the hearing Monday, Basoukas pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and molesting lobster gear. He was sentenced to 90 days in the House of Corrections, suspended, pending good behavior for one year.

Basoukas also pleaded guilty to 133 separate violations, ranging from illegal escape panels on lobster traps to uncompliant whale entanglement gear. He was ordered to pay more than $11,000 in fines and has lost the privilege of obtaining a lobster license for up to five years.

Then age 21, Basoukas was arrested Nov. 11 after a three-month investigation by Fish and Game Law Enforcement. Officers seized 81 lobster traps, of which 49 were determined to have been stolen property.